Exploring Life & Business with Ziyue Guo of F.O.U.N.D.

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ziyue Guo.

Hi Ziyue, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
F.O.U.N.D. began with a simple but often overlooked observation: many people experience significant “in-between” periods in life, moments of waiting, transition, or uncertainty that don’t fit neatly into existing systems of work, education, or social support.

As the founder, I’ve lived and worked across different cities and industries in the U.S., and I repeatedly saw the same pattern. People were not failing or lacking motivation, they were navigating pauses: immigration processes, career transitions, caregiving responsibilities, academic reorientation, or identity shifts. These moments are common, yet they are rarely named, supported, or intentionally designed for.

FOUND was created to change that. Rather than rushing people through these periods or treating them as gaps to be hidden, we focus on recognizing “pause” as a legitimate and meaningful stage of life, one that deserves structure, language, and community.

From the beginning, FOUND was built as a remote-first, multi-city organization, started in major U.S. urban communities such as Los Angeles and New York. This structure allows us to stay closely connected to diverse communities while operating flexibly across regions.

Today, FOUND brings together individuals, collaborators, and partners to create conversations, programs, and resources that support people during transitional periods. Our work sits at the intersection of culture, communication, identity, and wellbeing, with a strong emphasis on thoughtful design and real lived experience.

What started as a question: What if pauses were supported rather than stigmatized? has grown into a growing platform and community. As FOUND continues to evolve, our mission remains the same: to help people feel seen, heard, and found during moments that quietly shape who they become.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
While building FOUND, we have also been in a pause ourselves. As an organization rooted in transitional experiences, we chose to slow down rather than rush, spending time listening, observing, and understanding what people in these in-between moments actually need.

One of the biggest challenges has been creating something for a stage of life that is widely experienced but rarely acknowledged. “Pause” does not fit neatly into existing categories of work, funding, or social support, which means there is often no clear blueprint to follow.

There has also been ongoing pressure to move faster or simplify the work. Instead, we have been deliberate about designing programs and conversations that respect the complexity of people’s lived experiences, even when that meant growth looked quieter from the outside.

Operating as a remote-first, multi-city organization added another layer of complexity, requiring trust, clarity, and strong communication without relying on a single physical space.

Ultimately, these challenges have shaped FOUND into a more thoughtful and values-driven organization. Being in pause, both individually and collectively, has helped us build with intention, rather than urgency, and has informed how we approach what comes next.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
FOUND is a U.S.-based, 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that designs workshops, gatherings, and community experiences for people in life’s “pause” periods. Our programs are guided by a consistent internal framework, which helps us deliver structured, repeatable experiences rather than one-off events.

We host online workshops on a wide range of topics, combining knowledge-sharing with guided conversation. In select cities, we also run in-person meetups that include both discussion-based exchanges and fun, creative activities that make connection feel natural. Beyond events, FOUND serves as a community hub and storytelling platform, sharing real pause stories and building ongoing connection through resources, dialogue, and collaborations.

We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
I remember making kites and flying them in the spring as the weather warmed, and swinging under a grapevine trellis in the summer. When the grapes ripened, we made homemade grape wine. In the winter, we built snowmen, poured water to make ice, skated, and rode ice sleds in the yard.

Something I still do now is sneak into the kitchen to steal the first bite from the pot during big holiday meals. Old habits die hard.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://foundtogether.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foundnonprofit?igsh=MXF3M3ZlMmtycTRkdA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FOUNDNonprofit/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thefoundinitiative/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@F.O.U.N.D.official
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@f.o.u.n.d.official?lang=en

Image Credits
Visual design by : Sahithi Balerao